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After a long day of work in Crossville I got on the interstate and headed west. Sometimes a song calls out to you and you don’t know why – tonight I felt compelled to hear Sunset Road by Béla Fleck. I just knew it was the last song on the album, not even remembering the name or realizing the appropriateness. As I drove I immersed myself in the song, played it loud, felt every sorrowful, melancholy, wistful note. I drank it in until the hair stood up on my arms. The sun, already below the horizon, turned the sky into a muddy orange that diffused into the cold blue above. As I traveled the notes bled through me, the trees turned to dark shadows, the sky transformed to a cold caramel, the stars began to appear. All I wanted was to get home, and I don’t know where home is.

Last night I went to the free screening of An Inconvenient Truth at TTU. Al Gore himself was there but he was totally worthless because he spent the entire night crying since Trey and Megan didn’t show up. The movie itself was good, though I sometimes grew weary of Gore’s tactic of putting some schlock and ‘aw shucks’ between the scientific bits. I would have preferred a harder look at the science with more emphasis on actual numbers. However, I think it’s a great movie overall, and I of course urge you to see it. That doesn’t mean anything, though – when Jason C went on and on about it I didn’t run out and see it.

What we all need to realize is this: sometimes reading about something in a friend’s blog post doesn’t move you to action. You should change your ways and begin to accept me as your overlord. The sooner you do this the better and the less time you’ll have to spend in the sugar mines.

OKAY speaking of action, I need a yea or nay here. We all know I caved on growing a beard, though I have not discussed all the particulars. Doesn’t matter. Now the hair on my head is driving me crazy. I want to shave it all off. I present the following:

Pros: short hair
-Less work
-Can wear hats during winter without messing up hair
-Currently fairly stylish, or at least popular around these parts

Cons: short hair
-None currently known to science

Pros: long hair
-None currently known to science

Cons: long hair
-Can’t make it do anything resembling stylish
-Requires professional haircuts which apparently cost money
-I look like a doofus

Because I am a kind and benevolent ruthless overlord, I submit this to a vote. You, my people, my army, shall help me decide.

Where should I start yet another meaningless blog post full of disconnected inane ramblings?

I went by Photographic Services at school today and while they don’t have any pay positions ’till the start of next semester, I have an invitation to play with gear and shoot events (and accompany real employees on events) whenever I want. That alone is worth it – to be able to put on my resume that I took pics not for the school newspaper, but for the school itself. And the thought of getting the peanuts pittance next semester, to actually get paid to photograph things – that’s exciting.

‘Course I still gots to get a real job because I’m planning on taking Jim’s apartment when he moves to Nashville, and rent doesn’t pay itself. If you know of some entertaining and not-mindless student-friendly part-time job that I should be considering, please let me know. I think the employment classified ads in the Herald-Citizen got stuck – all three of them have been the same all week.

Um, um, my MOO cards are not here yet! About this I am livid! I filled out my form about five minutes before Trey did, and he has his already (and so does JC for that matter). Where are my MOO cards? If they never arrive, what will I do? Honestly, I’ll probably end up ordering a pack of 100 since I’ve seen Trey’s and the quality is awesome. They’re just about the best thing ever, and probably going to be totally passé in a week. I should hop on that.

When I get a job.

And money.

Lastly, on the food front, I’ve been moderately active. The other night while discussing with Mom what I was going to make for dinner I realized we had the ingredients for … um … I dunno what to call it. Southwest skillet, I guess. I think there used to be a name for it but I’ve forgotten.

Once the beef is cooked and drained, and the veggies are nice and soft, combine.

Season liberally with cumin (no, really liberally. Very liberally.) and cayenne pepper and ancho chile powder and chili powder and whatever else you have that’s spicy. Don’t forget salt and black pepper too.

Once that’s all good and hot and seasoned, dump the following in there:
1 can black beans, drained
1 can whole corn kernels, drained
1 can diced tomatoes, not drained

Heat to a simmer, throw in some flour if it’s too liquidy for your tastes, and serve over white rice. Scatter the shredded cheese of your choice on top and eat.

Warning: very filling.

Also, I was asked to make alfredo sauce tonight but we didn’t have any heavy cream. The recipe calls for 3/4 cup heavy cream, but instead I used 1/2 cup cream cheese, whisked into the milk until nice and smooth. If you go this route, leave out the salt, as our end product was a bit saltier than I usually like to make it.

That’s all for tonight, folks! Tune in tomorrow when I clip my toenails.

I will openly admit to anyone that asks … though, come to think of it, no one ever has – anyway, I’ll admit I’m a Flickr addict. The first thing I do when I sit at the computer is check my email, of course, and then I check Flickr immediately thereafter. I even have a special bookmarks folder that opens four separate Flickr pages:
1. The main Flickr page, showing my contacts’ photos,
2. My pictures page, so I can see image views,
3. My ‘recent activity on your photos’ page (as seen here) so I can check commenting, notes, and favoriting of my pictures
4. My ‘comments you’ve made’ (here) so I can see if anyone has responded to my comments.

It’s ridiculous. It’s a completely unnecessary amount of Flickr-ing and yet I do it at least five times a day. Maybe ten.

I love your pictures is what I’m saying. I wish you’d take more.

Oh, speaking of Flickr, I’ve started trying to map a lot of my recent shots. Of course I’m not putting the location of your house or front yard or anything, but whatever is common or public I’m trying to get on that big ol’ empty map. I don’t think you can see the maps if you’re not a Flickr member (or not logged in) but I have not done extensive testing (read: any testing). But yeah, maps! Like this picture of me in a tree – on the right you can find a link to the mapped location. S’cool and also very nice not to be relying on a third-party geotagging system anymore.

Okay, let’s see. What else? There was something else. OH YES. I attended Burl’s 30th 31st Burlthday and it was entertaining. I gots a few pics and so did Henry. Oh, yeah, about that picture of me that he has up there … I’m trying to invent a new hobby wherein I run off with the cameras of my Flickr friends and take absolutely terrible self-portraits. So far I only have three (1, 2, 3) but just you wait – I’m sure I’ll find someone else’s camera soon. Damn you, Jason Johnson, for not having fresh batteries for your camera at the Burlthday party. You made me miss a great opportunity!

I finally purchased for myself a decent external flash for my camera, and kept the neighborhood awake last night learning how to bounce flash properly. I think I have the hang of it, and everyone within a quarter-mile radius is probably blind by now and has a funky tan. As for my eyesight – I am currently typing by feel alone so excuse any errors, please-and-thank-you.

There was a whole longer paragraph here about me listening to two disparate yet concurrent Indian songs while studying my Spanish homework, but it was way too long for a piece that didn’t have a punchline at the end. Instead, I leave you with this joke: